Seven foreigners arrested for smuggling antelopes
By Staff Reporter
Police have arrested six South Africans and a Zimbabwean for allegedly smuggling Sable antelopes from Zambia.
The seven suspects, six South Africans and one Zimbabwean national that were arrested by the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) for attempting to smuggle wildlife to South Africa on Monday, later appeared in the Monze magistrates’ court for plea.
They were charged with illegal possession of firearm, ammunition, forgery, and giving false information to investigation officers; and they all pleaded not guilty.
ZAWA officers on Friday smashed an endangered wildlife smuggling syndicate, arresting six South Africans and seizing a specially equipped light aircraft, vehicles, weapons and veterinary drugs.
The men detained include hunters and game capturers from Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and North West.
They were arrested in a military operation in Southern Province near Lake Kariba.
Zambia Air Force and ZAWA officers arrested the suspects
as they were off-loading 12 sable antelope calves from a trailer and preparing to put them into a Piper Navajo Chieftain aircraft, parked under trees near a dirt landing strip in the bush.
According to ZAWA, ach of the animals could be sold for about U$1 million.
The suspects were nabbed at Katokota airstrip in Gwembe district in Southern Province.
One of the suspects was identified as Francial, a wildlife relocator who said he had come to Zambia to search for greener pastures.
The suspect said they were moving the animals from Lusaka to a ranch in Livingstone, but ZAWA officers suspected there was some anomaly in the reason given.
Other suspects include Damia Leroux, a driver aged 25; Peter Burger, also driver who said he had no idea where the animals were going but he knew where the animals were coming from. Peter Schalk Grobler 32, the manager, said he just knew Yaku from Swanvest, where the animals were coming from and did not know the place he was taking the animals to.
Munyaradzi Tapera, 36, a general worker from Zimbabwe said he had no idea and was working under instructions.
The animals were delivered and released into Munda Wanga sanctuary for observation and rehabilitation.
However, five antelopes have died so far due to stress.
Zambian authorities claim the pilot of the aircraft, which is said to be owned by a Pretoria game company, did not file flight plans, failed to declare the cargo and had not cleared customs.
